I became a Martial Artist because...

[Champ-Pain]

There are many different reasons why people take up Martial Arts. In my particular case - I've always enjoyed a good fight, and I simply just wanted to be a good fighter. No other reason, really.

Why did you take up Martial Arts, in the first place?

 

[Steve]

I enjoy it. It's fun and keeps me in shape.

 

[JohnEdward]

Because of the groupies and Japanese food....


Seriously, interest as a result of the really amazing things my instructor did one day, I had no idea could be done, among other standard things.

 

[seasoned]

My love affair began many years ago with the likes of the series Kung Fu with David Carradine plus the numerous movies of Bruce Lee. I entered the military when I was 18yrs old and dabbled a bit. Upon discharge I visited the only Dojo in town, an Okinawan GoJu DoJo. 40 or so years later I am still fascinated with the ever changing arts. The opportunities, experiences, life long friends, awesome training has made me the person I am today. I got my wife and two children involved early on which helped to bond our family.

 

[Champ-Pain]

I enjoy it. It's fun and keeps me in shape.

Steve - Your answer tells me why you do it now, but why did you start, to begin with, before you knew you'd enjoy it and it would keep you in shape?

 

[Blindside]

I started because my best friend was doing it and it looked like fun. I have kept doing it because of the personal challenge and that it is fun.

 

[Noah_Legel]

I started because I was interested in the cultural aspects (Japanese/Okinawan), because I wanted to learn self defense and because I wanted to get into better shape. Now I continue because all of those things are still true and I still have fun doing it!

 

[Sukerkin]

Embarrassed as I am at my age to admit it, how I started in on the martial arts was a pretty cliched route. A friend and I went to see "Enter the Dragon" at the flicks - one week later, of nagging by him for us to go and learn kung fu, I had started on the journey that would eventually put a sword in my hand and lead me to that peaceful place where mushin dwells.

 

[Sanke]

Mine's not so exciting. I thought all the kicking and punching in kung-fu movies was cool, and I wanted to do it too. Get my confidence up, and all that good stuff, so I joined my local Taekwondo club, and enjoyed it for years. Then one day, when I was talking to a friend about starting MA together, we thought ninjutsu sounded cool, found a place, and burst into his house-mate's room saying 'Hey man, ya wanna be a NINJA?!'
And it all just kinda went from there

 

[fangjian]

I used to get beat up a lot when I was a kid. I think it was after watching The Karate Kid, that got my interest. Since, he was a kid that would get bullied I identified with that, AND he becomes THE MAN toward the end. I wanted to be that.

 

[oaktree]

So I become stronger and help people.

 

[MA-Caver]

I got tired of being beaten up during school(s) and then later used it to help me find my center.

 

[Cyriacus]

Started out for Self Defense.
Then that evolved into slightly more Intensive Self Defense.
Which then evolved into Combative Ideologies.

 

[Buka]

I used to read comic books. (1950's) Somewhere in every comic book, there was an ad about Count Dante, "The deadliest man alive". For some reason it tweaked my interest. I was a little kid. I thought, "Wow, that's something." I didn't know exactly what that something was, but I knew it was amazing. (I still feel that way)

In 1963, Ed Parker appeared on "The Lucy Show". That episode (which I just looked up on Google) was called "Lucy and Viv learn Judo". (even though it was Karate) That was it, I was hooked. Oh, man, was I hooked.( big time). It was what I wanted to do, it was ALL I wanted to do.

Years later, I was fortunate to become friends with, and a student of, Master Parker. When I first informed him of how this effected me, he said, "Shh, people might think I'm old!" Damn, he was one hell of a great man.

 

[elder999]

I wanted to be James Bond. :lfao:

Waddya want? I was 11. :lfao:

 

[Jenna]

For me though I loved Nico and the old Seagal movies, I think I was made to take a martial art rather than entering particularly willingly. I think my Dad with the best of intentions wanted to ease me out of a wayward teenage nature that no amount of drilling in the boxing gym seemed to be helping with. I do not know if it worked. I love my martial art though. I am glad for being initially coerced into it as I think the old man was right and seemed to know what would fit me.

 

[Jenna]

There are many different reasons why people take up Martial Arts. In my particular case - I've always enjoyed a good fight, and I simply just wanted to be a good fighter. No other reason, really.

Why did you take up Martial Arts, in the first place?

Is it ok if I ask, why did you want to be a good fighter?

 

[stickarts]

I loved sparring! The conditioning, the self defense, and the competitive challenge.

 

[Champ-Pain]

Is it ok if I ask, why did you want to be a good fighter?

I love to fight and I hate to lose, even now.

 

[Jenna]

I love to fight and I hate to lose...

I understand this. For me, martial art became a catharsis; a way of feeling that I was in control of at least something. And so then can I ask did you fight before you began martial arts?